Proving An Elementary Science Lesson Wrong With Two Questions

[The Ceej]

In elementary school science we learned a few things about the tongue and flavors.

We learned that all food falls among the only four flavors: Salty, sweet, sour, and bitter.

I can prove that wrong with this unanswerable question:
Describe the flavor of a white onion using only the terms, salty, sweet, sour, and bitter.

We also learned that each of these flavors has a designated part of the tongue that can only taste that flavor and nothing else.

I can prove that wrong with this unanswerable question:
Why is it that you can taste any food on any part of your tongue?

And don't tell me I'm the only person who can do that. That is highly unlikely.

[Værn]

Aren't flavors a combination of taste and smell?

[scrumpleberry]

You're applying this basic explanation to something it is not supposed to be applied to: this is for little people to help them break down the curiousness of food. Food is highly complex and different parts can be tasted on each bit of your tongue. STOP RUINING PEOPLE'S CHILDHOODS.

[Momiji]

Aren't flavors a combination of taste and smell?

Yes.

This is why in that 'which sense would you give up' thread, I kept wondering why on earth anyone would give up smell, when it makes them lose their sense of taste as well.

[Peegee]

Aren't flavors a combination of taste and smell?

Yes.

This is why in that 'which sense would you give up' thread, I kept wondering why on earth anyone would give up smell, when it makes them lose their sense of taste as well.

It would negate some aspect of taste but not all of it. I do know what you're referring to (it's why we hold our breath to eat something yucky).

The topic question is not sensibly asked. Onions have a combination taste. You're also forgetting Umami.

[Momiji]

The topic question is not sensibly asked. Onions have a combination taste. You're also forgetting Umami.

I thought that was still in question of whether that was a real taste or not. o_o

EDIT: Well, of course it's a real taste, but I meant 'accepted with the 'sweet, sour, salty, bitter'' tastes.

[The Ceej]

Aren't flavors a combination of taste and smell?

Yes. And that also is evidence against this elementary school science lesson.

The topic question is not sensibly asked. Onions have a combination taste.

Then answer the question. No one said you can't use more than one of the selectable options. If you cannot answer the question (and you can't), then that disproves this elementary school science lesson.

[Momiji]

Well you also have to remember that this is an elementary science lesson. You can't get too deep into detail without confusing kids. And while it isn't completely right, it does seem that some parts of the tongue perceive particular tastes better than other places.

[The Ceej]

And when I told my fifth grade teacher, "I can taste anything on any part of my tongue," she replied with, "Of course you can because you're different from everyone else."

She was the worst teacher I ever had. I hope she's dead now.

EDIT: I looked up "umami" in the dictionary. It's not a word.

[Momiji]

Then that's more the fault of your teacher than the subject of elementary science itself.

[Lawr]

Onions are a combination.

Kind of like how 'Savory' is not a word, but you can use it to describe the taste of something like meat.

[The Ceej]

People keep saying onions are a combination but fail to say what is involved in the combination.

That's like if you said, "Pepper is not one of the four basic spices, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme," and I said, "It's a combination," without specifying anything in greater detail.

According to my dictionary, savory is a word with multiple definitions. I'd type them all out, but I have to leave for work in five minutes. I trust you all know how to use your dictionaries.

[Wind_Falcon]

lol Now that I think about it the English language doesn't have a word to describe this taste...Suck a poor language. In Bulgaria we have a word specifically for this kind of taste.

[Lawr]

Oh sorry there were like 10,000 posts that popped up when I made mine.

I'd think onions would be a combination of sour and salty?

[Remulak]

There are 5 tastes, not four.